This section of the TRAINS Magazine Forum now has 908 pages of posts. I wonder, how many of you original members are still active and posting? Also, what kind of changes have you seen this forum go through?
I’m certainly not a charter member, but I just found one of my old posts from November 2001. I was (Dough814) at the time. I know that Brakie was around then and was quite helpful. I think he could claim the title of charter member.
The biggest thing that I remember was the old forum style in which you had to click on each individual thread. It remained even as other forums moved to this modern style of scrolling down. I dropped off around that period and lost my screen name. When I came back the modern forums were here!
Looking back at forum content as an historical timeline, I’d say that the level of moderation that we all currently “enjoy” [xx(] is the biggest change.
In days of old when knights were bold, and the ladies not so particular…it was often fun to contemplate political obscurities here with other members we all knew and loved. And before anyone trot’s out the stale old admonishments beckoning “if you want to talk politics, then go to a political forum, blah blah, blah… coward…yada yada…” I’d just like to point out what should be obvious to all other than complete mental midgets. For those hoping to recruit mindset, the (quote)political (unquote) forums are generally pretty slim pickings. Most of the regulars at political forums are pretty set in their ways, they don’t want to learn anything new, and so there is very little to recruit. In contrast, a forum such as this is often teaming with fence sitters who might not have all the facts on a particular issue, and may even be grateful for access to all the information that will allow them to make truly informed decisions [;)]
[soapbox]
…I’ve been around for a while but don’t know when this forum really did originate. Anybody on now know…?
I believe the Forum opened to the public in the first week of January 2001. There was a member named Chief who joined 3 months before that, but he was probably just setting it up.
? Do you then go over to political forums, and try to recruit people who are “on the fence” about railroads, to come over to this forum?[}:)]
Rather than admonish you about the politics thing, I’d simply suggest the following. Right now, nasty,nasty politics is embedded in just about everything around us. Just about everything that involves 2 or more voters turns into an ugly us verses them political battle. Why is it asking too much, to keep this forum focused on trains? Statistically speaking, I probably disagree with 50% of the posters, on
I think it was invented in the 1970s by Al Gore… [(-D]
Actually, I do spend a fair amount of time butting heads at politically oriented forums which makes the assertions of fear somehow being an inhibiting factor, laughable. I guess that certain types just like to imply fear as a motive of their chosen opponents, as a means to stroke themselves. [:D]
Exactly!! that pretty much is the alpha and the omega of it all, since politics is an inseperable part of just about any meaningful event, why play the ostrich gambit forcing head in the sand?
But, it shouldn’t have to, there are many clever people an this forum, and surely they are sophisticated enough to realize that differences of opinion are not only natural, but they are healthy. And merely because someone else feels differently is no absolute deteminant that one party is necessarily right, while the other is necessarily wrong. I think perhaps the failing is the obsession in seeing everything in a "good guys " vs
I too remember the old “tree” architecture used here before, and the change to the current format (superior in my estimation) was roundly criticized by many who expected things to never change.
There have been settings issues that came along with changes, which the staff here listened to attentively and (to their credit) eventually corrected
I have been a member since…well, it’s a while now.
I wasn’t here for the old “tree type” interface.
I don’t think this is the place for politics, but unfortunately, the railroads are tied to politics, and bureacracy. It is politicians that decide on things like CREATE, the Stagger’s Act, and other things. Keeping the discussion within the realm of “railroad politics” if you will. I generally stay out of the political discussions, only because I get tired of it quickly, and if I don’t think I have anything to add, I don’t bother with it.
Beyond that, this is a great forum, full of information, and it’s interesting to get everyone’s views, stories, opinions, and experiences…
My profile says I joined Dec 2001, Wow thats along time!
Use to be much…livelier so to say [;)]
In the days before the registration was required any idiot or troll with an axe to grind just post something ugly and it was off to the races. Kept Eric really on his toes as he was the one and only Moderator. We had a long running issue in the early days regarding one midwest state named knucklehead I knicknamed “Misery” here who constantly posted inflamitory topics all but accusing RRs of jumping off the tracks and chasing people across the fields to kill them, I think he was the first member to be permanently BANNED from the site. Thiers a milestone!
Alot of long time posters have faded away or post significantly less these days, myself included, different crowd today, but thats the nature of things old members go fade away, new ones fill there spaces.
…P Z:
I was around before Al Gore…
Since 03-2002…back when it was a fun place to be.
I joined Christmas Day, 2001, and I really don’t recall what prompted me to do so. I don’t think I posted for quite a while after that though. Once I did…
[quote user=“Convicted One”]
Actually, I do spend a fair amount of time butting heads at politically oriented forums which makes the assertions of fear somehow being an inhibiting factor, laughable. I guess that certain types just like to imply fear as a motive of their chosen opponents, as a means to stroke themselves. [:D]
Exactly!! that pretty much is the alpha and the omega of it all, since politics is an inseperable part of just about any meaningful event, why play the ostrich gambit forcing head in the sand?
But, it shouldn’t have to, there are many clever people an this forum, and surely they are sophisticated enough to realize that differences of opinion are not only natural, but they are healthy. And merely because someone else feels differently is no absolute deteminant that one party is necessarily right, while the other is necessarily wrong. I think perhaps the failing is the obsession in seeing everything in
It’s his fault! He got me started!
I’ve been a forum participant since December of 2001 and have been participating in and/or creating controversy ever since. Regardless, I continue to enjoy all of my hours involved with each and every one of you on this forum and hope we all can continue to do so for many years to come.
I’ve often thought that it’s too bad that these forums don’t include what’s called a “lounge” area where freewheeling, off topic discussions can be had as many other forums do…having said that am I to understand that one of your hobbies is posting on web forums for the purpose of “recruiting” people to whatever your ideological cause(s) may be?..My, and to think folks find railfanning an odd pastime…
Almost as long as my “little sister”. My wife says that a lot of the people here are really our peers; we’ve met a great circle of friends, of all ages.
Carnej1, don’t the Flat Wheel Cafe or the Trackside Lounge meet your needs for an occasional off-topic diversion? (Actually the Lounge doesn’t go too far off topic, but very little is off limits, and trains and railroading are what we all have in common.)
I don’t know about “charter member” but I have been on here about 5 years, although I didn’t post for a while. All the rif-raf aside this site has been quite enjoyable. And because of this site I have met some really great people, both here and in person. Before that i never really met many people that were into trains like myself. Thanks for the site Trains[;)]